Is DNA as good as we think?

Here is Edward Humes, Guilt by the Numbers, California Lawyer, April 2009.

This should not be an issue in most military cases because there’s usually an identified suspect. But it’s interesting to see, once again, how law enforcement and prosecution control of the crime labs can potentially influence what the public (and defense) sees or gets – the cheerleading.

The National Research Council goes in calling for change. In their February report, they recommend improving reliability and transparency by taking the databases out of the hands of law enforcement and prosecutors entirely.

In the meantime, jurors — hearing only the cheerleading version of the science — will keep believing the CSI mantra that the science never lies.

See more on the National Research Council report on forensic science. And some other forensics comments.